Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-16
BLOOD.STAINED JEWELS.
BY CECIL sTEME.

; when very young, from motives of interest
conf0rmed to the Christian faith. He was
now about forty years of age, but looked
some years less-short, stout, sallow, with
the features peculiar to his tribe, black
hair, bushy whiskers, small, piercing eyes,
dressed in the extreme Of fashion, sur
rounded by every article of taste and lux
ury-in all extraneous circumstances q
gentleman and bel esprit; but in mind and
heart plebeian.
One morning, at the early hour of eleven,
while seated at breakfast, he was startled
by an announcement from his valet thai
the Duchess de Montifere was waiting to
see him in the grand saloon; that she had
come on foot and unattended, and had only
1t last given her name when she found il
impossible to obtain admission without
doing 80.
Monsieur Achilles pale cheek flushed,
then faded to q double sallowness-then he
smiled-then almost trembled. At last, he
desired his valet to return to the Duchess
and announce his speedy arrival; then,
having carefully revised his toilet, and
fortified himself with glass from one of
the bottles on the table before him, he de-
scended to the grand saloon.
The Duchess was standing with her back
to him, examining q picture of exquisite
Ocouty, WulCu uuuS Ou tuo OppO6lt6 6lu0 OI
the room. He had time to close the door
and advance halfway up the apartment
before she became aware of his entrance or
turned to greet him. When she did so,
what contrast did she present to him.
She, In her calm and smiling beauty-so
cold, so proud-so superbly lovely. He,
with his coarse and ordinary features, his
ungainly figure, his embarrassed manner:
The Duchess was a beautiful woman-per-
haps she had never looked more beautiful
than she did at that moment.
She spoke first. Monsieur Achille. I
have come to beg favor Of you-but pray
sit down." He obeyed her, and they seated
themselves opposite to each other. II have
come to ask you for money-we know how
rich you are. You must know how affairs
stand with us-our revenues hardly sup
port our rank-our expenses are enormous.
The sale of all my Jewels will not raise
sufficient to pay this debt of honor of nv
husbands; but it must be paid tomorrow.
You, who know everything must know all
this; and to you, as the richest man in
Paris, / come to request the loan-I might
almost say, the gift-of thirty thousand
louis dor"
Thirty thousand louis, madam! You
ask half OF what possess"
Not SO, Monsieur Achille. One sue
cessful speculation will restore it to Won.
You will scarcely miss it; to me it will be |
life; more than life-honor. This, with |
the sale of my diamonds, will bring us |
barely through"
Monsieur Achille was silent for some
time; then, with a bitter sneer, he said.
Try De Valens and Beaufeur-will not
they supply your"
.You mock me-you know they cannot.
on! Monsieur Achille,. have mercy-have
knees. clasped her hands. and laid them on
his feet.
You have had little mercy. madam
you have had little mercy!" And then
there was pause. Atlast, @You love your
madam"
Better than my life, was the reply.
listen to me-"
That evening, about 8 o'clock, Monsieur :
Achille. dressed with the utmost elegance. ,
'hrouded in large cloak, under which he /.
,arried small but heavy packet. entered
Ills cabriolet, and desiring his confidential
Faaet to attend him, drove in the direction
u the Hotel Montifore. The drive was a
oog one: and he, proceeding at leisurely
aaces he'd time to reflect upon and ponder
'vas a., AsAnts Of the day. She. whom he +
lad so lovedl-she, Sho had so spurned, !
70 despised him-ths woman shA had once =
ued and prayed to, whose laugh u deri-
ION had rung In his ears 30 long-she, 80
vorshiped, so respected. whom calumny
lad never reached, Who stood in the center
II profigate court purer than falling
now-she to be his at last-bought- /.
fought with price-she, to whom all tho
lobles of the land had sighed in vain re.
erved at last for him!
TODD the Hotel Montifore, he stopped and
ave the reius into the hands of his valet. b
de told him he was going on business 70 I
he Duke de 1ontifore; and If the noble. 2
nan was from home, should wait until he !,
eturned; that he expected his cabroilst to
'e at the same spot In two hours time. and
hat, Il he was not there to meet il. he
vished his servant to take IL home, and he
vould return On foot, and ON no account to
mention where he had Left him. or to give Z,
ny clue to the proceedings or destination I,
4 that evening.
The valet obsyed these orders to the let d
er. Monder Achille reached the Hotel d
doptfors. and. DausinR at . snau sids q
me s.oof was fmme openesa " . !,
|gure - muf1ed that it was impossible to
either sex or age. With asilent 3
novement, it beckoned him to follow; they
roesed the court and reached Q small and n
ark apartment They paused.
Il Aavs brought il ell. most lovely
)uchess. And now he took teuderiy Il
he offended hand Of the fgure-ths grasp Il
hak met Ais was Of iron.
Els Is Ill gold?s
sAu gold" he answered; and this was f
be last word he ever uttered. a.
Mcnsisuf Aehiiie Vas missing 70. two =
On the third day, his bcS5I
- found In the river, some miles frohl
e plaoo WHARF his valet stated = had q
-. Nh Last His pockets were riAeds ~ >